Posted: 10 November 2005 at 6:54am | IP Logged

I think the band will always be releasing new product so let's have have a special promotion cd of either pre signs or demos that acompanies the new stuff like the cd with the cbs cd

Posted: 23 May 2006 at 12:51pm | IP Logged

An overview of what studio non-album/single material exists:

1971: tracks recorded in mono, pre narnia, pre-andy. prog rock.

1974: tracks recorded with Andy at Theatre Projects.

1976: tracks recorded at ICC forming a demo reel.

1978: cbs clincher demos and outtakes.

1979/80: studio rehearsals. (rough run throughs lyrics not finalised)

1979/80: Tony Mansfield sessions. (inc aborted 80f1, life in city single from these sessions)

1980: 80-f demos. (new tracks for 80f2)

1981: batteries demos (well covered period from PB's bedroom to studio, several reels and 4-tracks)

1981: Maison Rouge demos and sessions. (inc alt Der K and Stand by Me demos and single)

1982: ICC demos. (inc. 1984-F and Don't Say Goodbye. When you finally hear these two tracks you will cry)

1983: andy's stuff (demos and tracks for Free Heat)

1985: more of andy's stuff (in pursuit of Atlantic deal)

1989: dance remix of One Rule (personally spliced together by PB. A reel so frightening fragile I was amazed we played it even once).

Lots of live stuff exists too, and more comes to light over time. Hope this summary is helpful. See my site for comprehensive details on all the above. This site is currently being reworked.

jules

Posted: 23 May 2006 at 1:30pm | IP Logged

Hey Jules,

You are the ATF Meister

Posted: 23 May 2006 at 8:17pm | IP Logged

Cheers chap. Did the above list lunchtime, from memory. Corrections/Ommissions:

1978: cbs clincher demos (were done in cbs studios and Air).

1979: more outtakes done (cbs studios)

1981: Air demos, (mostly work on Stand By Me)

Many of the are rough mixes by PB, with him on vocals. He would work out music, and sing an often non-sensical lyric on top, or just vocal noises to give the melody. Sometimes PB's lyrics were taken up by andy and worked in, often they were abandoned. The chorus "feel like a rider in a wild west show", started as "feel like a rider at the rodeo", for instance. Joane's chorus started as "but i've got to find an answer / to this question right now / i think it only fair / that i do declare / i want to know how"

one 4-track cassette has a demo of short change, with useful diagram showing andy how to set the panning for each track. this same cassette also includes christmas carols played by PB ! They have not made it into the Cannon.

jules

Posted: 24 May 2006 at 1:33pm | IP Logged

I too would have voted for "all of the above".  ATF are one of the few exceptions to the rule that "if you want to try to make it to the big time, you have to jetison your original fans".

Like many of the other pre-Signs fans of the band, I also love the later incarnations of the band.

Personally, I would like to see released, alternate versions to the Laser Love period songs.  I do listen regularly to the first CBS album, but I am not so keen with the production on that album compared with the way they played live and on Radio 1.       

Posted: 24 May 2006 at 8:42pm | IP Logged

For reference:

A. Cassette (client - atf, production - atf) dated 4 jan 79

1. Like the power of a jet (master)

2. Check It Out (master)

3. One Rule (rough mix)

B. cassette (studio - Air, client - atf,  production, Rupert Hine) 

1. Laser Love

C. cassette (client - atf, production - atf)

1. Time To Think

2. Laser Love

3. Life In The City

D. reel (PB #016, client - CBS, prod - atf, engineer - graham dixon)

4. A Little Sun A Little Rain

5. Help

NB: air studios laser love prod by Hine, album/single we are familar with, prod byMuff Winwood/Rhett Davies

jules